What could be more fitting in the run-up to Halloween than a night out to witness the dark delights of Dani and co kick off their UK and Irish tour in Belfast?

Savage Messiah (c) Exposing Shadows Photography

Savage Messiah must have hit the stage the second the doors opened as they were already finished their first track by the time I got to the front of the queue. The venue started to slowly fill up with people taking a noticeable interest in the band, despite such a stark difference in genre to the headliners. “Hellblazer” and “Minority of One” were standout tracks and the band are worth checking out for those who are fans of old school thrash with a bit of groove thrown in for good measure.

The Limelight darkened and an eerie introduction welcomed Cradle of Filth on stage one by one, with Dani entering last. Opening with “Gilded Cunt” the band embarked on a wide range of tracks from their most recent release Cryptoriana – The Seductiveness of Decay right back to Dusk and her Embrace.

Cradle of Filth (c) Exposing Shadows Photography

The night saw a live debut of “Bathory Aria”, which Dani jokingly introduced by saying it lasted three weeks, and despite his verbalised reservations that it might not go according to plan, sounded fantastic. “You Will Know the Lion by His Claw” has certainly spurred my interest to check out the new album.

“Nymphetamine Fix” and “Her Ghost in the Fog” were kept for the encore, both tracks allowed Lindsay Schoolcraft to showcase her vocal talents.

Even though the on stage theatrics have been stripped back, Cradle of Filth still delivered a fantastic performance, with Dani’s vocals and charisma showing no signs of wavering. The rest of the band complement this perfectly, each having their own unique stage presence. A perfect way to prepare for Halloween.